Trunk-protector.



B. N. THAIN.

TRUNK PROTECTOR.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. a, 1909.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

INVENTOR zuyezze flff'jzaz'fa WITNESSES ATTORNEYS EUGENE NAPOLIAN THAIN, OF FRANKLIN, MASSACHUSETTS.

TRUNK-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

Application filed. March 5, 1909. Serial No. 481,216.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE N. TIIAIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Franklin, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Trunk-Protector, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to trunk protectors, such as are adapted to be used in connection with trunks, boxes, and other receptacles, for the protection thereof, and each of which in general includes a number of corner guards adjustably connected to one another by means of tie members, whereby an upper and a lower frame are formed, and adjustable means joining the frames to one another to hold them in position on a receptacle.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described, simple and serviceable in construction and inexpensive to manufacture, which can be readily arranged on a trunk or other receptacle, and which is so constructed that it can be easily adjusted on receptacles of different sizes.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of my invention; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a modified form of trunk protector.

Before proceeding to a more detailed description of my invention, it should be un derstood that in shipping trunks, boxes or other receptacles, the latter are subject to excessive wear. To obviate the danger of a receptacle becoming injured or broken open, I provide a protecting harness adapted to be arranged thereon, which includes a number of corner guards adapted to fit over the corners of a trunk or other receptacle to prevent injury, should the receptacle receive rough handling.

In the specific form shown in the drawings, I provide a trunk protector which consists of two frames 1 and 2 respectively, which are substantially similar to each other. Each frame includes four corner guards 3 adapted to fit over the corners of a trunk or other receptacle, and each having three faces 4: at right angles to one another. The corner guards of each frame are connected at the sides by means of tie rods 5, the latter having their extremities 6 enlarged and pivotally secured to the corner guards by means of rivets 7 At their centers these rods have a hinge connection, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, a hinge pin 8 being employed for this purpose.

Connecting the corner guards of each frame at the ends of the device are single tie rods 9 having their ends 10 pivotally secured t0 the corner guards, and having a hinge construction at their centers similar to that of the tie rods on the sides of the device. Each of the corner guards of the lower frame has an extension 11 which is bent back upon itself to form a sleeve which receives the hinge bar 12 of a buckle 13. The extension 11 is further provided with an opening or cut-away portion 14- which allows the free movement of the tongue 15 of the buckle, the latter having one of its ends bent about the hinge. bar 12.

Secured by means of a rivet 17 to each of the corner guards of the upper frame, and on a face which corresponds to the face of the lower frame carrying the buckle, are binding straps 16. Each of the straps is provided with a plurality of openings 18, through which the tongue 15 of the buckle passes to secure the frames to one another. I also provide binding members 19 connecting adjacent rods of each frame and both frames. These members each have a portion 90 which, in the preferred form, is bent upon itself and has its ends riveted, having first been passed about the hinge bar of a buckle 21; and a strap portion 22, the latter being provided with a plurality of openings 23 which receive the tongue 24 of the buckle. Each of the end guards is provided with a plurality of openings 25 which receive buffers 26 formed of leather lacing, rubber or the like. These buffers on the outside serve to absorb a certain amount of shock incident to a receptacle falling or being roughly handled, while on the inside of the guards they serve to keep the latter from scratching the receptacle.

lVhen it is desired to mount the device on a trunk or other receptacle, the straps which connect the two frames are undone and the frames positioned on the receptacle which is to receive them. By means of the different straps and the hinged tierods, the frames can be fitted to a receptacle of almost any size. When the device is in position, the straps are again passed through the buckles and are suitably tightened, so that the protector is firmly held in place.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 2,

' Binding straps 31 are arranged on the sides of the yoke. The guards which I employ may be constructed of any suitable material, such as cast iron, leather or the like.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A device of the class described, comprising an upper and lower frame, each formed of four corner guards, a pair of sectional and hinged tie rods connecting the guards at each side, a single sectional and hinged tie rod connecting the guards at each end, and a strap adjustably connecting a tie rod of one pair of rods with a rod of the other pair, the connection being at the center of said rods, straps adjustably connecting the guards of one frame with the guards of the other frame, a strap adjustably connecting one side tie rod of the upper frame with a tie rod of the lower frame at each side, and straps adjustably connecting the end tie rods of the frames.

2. A device of the class described, comprising an upper and lower frame, each formed of four corner guards, a pair of flexible tie rods connecting the guards at each side, a flexible tie rod connecting the guards at each end, and a strap connecting one tie rod of one pair with a tie rod of the other pair of side tie rods, a strap connecting the guards of the upper and lower frames, a strap connecting one side tie rod of one frame and a side tie rod of the other frame at each side, and'straps connecting the end tie rods of said frames.

3. A device of the class described, comprising an upper and lower frame, each formed of four corner guards, a pair of tie rods connecting the guards at each side, a tie rod connecting the guards at each end, and a strap connecting two side tie rods together at their centers, straps connecting the guards of one frame with the guards of the other frame, a strap connecting a side tie rod of one frame with a side tie rod of the other frame at each side, and straps connecting the end tie rods of the frames with each other.

4. In a device of the class described, comprising upper and lower frames, each formed of four corner guards, jointed members connecting the guards at the sides, jointed members connecting the guards at the ends, and an adjustable connection between the side members, an adjustable connection between the guards of the upper and lower frames, adjustable connections between the side members of the two frames, and adjustable connections between the end members of the said frames.

5. In a device of the class described, comprising an upper and lower frame, each formed of corner guards, jointed rods connecting the guards at the side, jointed rods connecting the guards at the ends, and an adjustable connection between the jointed side rods, and means for adjustablv connecting the two frames.

6. In a device of the class described, corner guards adapted to be arranged at the corners of a receptacle, jointed rods connecting certain of said guards at the sides and ends, whereby said guards are arranged in two groups, straps secured to the guards and rods of one group, and buckles carried by the guards and rods of the other group and adapted to hold said straps, whereby said groups are connected.

7. In a device of the class described, corner guards adapted to be arranged at the cor ners of a receptacle, jointed rods connecting certain of said guards at the sides and ends, whereby said guards are arranged in two groups, straps secured to the side and end rods of one group, buckles carried by the rods of the other group and adapted to hold said straps, straps carried by the guards of one group, and buckles carried by the guards of the other group and adapted to receive said further straps.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EUGENE NAPOLIAN TI-IAIN.

lVitnesses:

Fonnnsr ESKRIDGE, ROY R. SIsK. 

